‘Girls’ Season 3: Why Did Christoper Abbott Leave the Series?

Though HBO Golden Globe-winner 'Girls' courts plenty of controversy all on its own, series star Christopher Abbott made waves a few months ago with the news he would abruptly depart the series altogether, despite season 2 finale "Together" positioning his character Charlie for a larger role in season 3. Abbott was reported at the time to be feuding with creator and star Lena Dunham, though now the actor has finally gone on record to explain his departure.

“The world that Lena wrote was very real, especially in New York,” Abbott told The New York Times, downplaying notions of a feud that led to his exit. “But it wasn’t as relatable for me on a personal level. It’s not that I only like to play roles I know to a T, but there’s something satisfying about playing parts where you really relate to the characters.”

The initial report from the New York Post claimed that Abbott had been butting heads with Dunham over the direction of the series, while Abbott's publicist stated: “[Chris] is grateful for the experience of collaborating with Lena, Judd [Apatow], and the entire Girls cast and crew, but right now he’s working on numerous other projects and has decided not to return to the show."

“It’s almost as if we skipped her third season and have gone on to single Marnie,” co-star Allison Williams said of Abbott's impact on the new season. “[The offscreen breakup] means that Marnie is now piecing herself back together.” Other set photos have surfaced depicting the character in heavy states of training, as “Marnie is working out her demons with exercise. That’s a big part of her life: She’s deciding that fitness is something to channel her anger into.”

Well, what do you think? Was Abbott's 'Girls' departure a difference of opinion, or something more volatile? Preview the latest from 'Girls' season 3 in the comments, and tell us what you want to see from the always-controversial series in 2014!